Page 26 of Read the Room

“So, Ma told me that you wanted to go back to school.”

I moved around nervously in my seat. Mama Bee was out here telling my business.

“Um, yeah. I was saving up to take at least one class online during the upcoming semester. I’ll probably wait until next year now. It’s going to take a minute for me to get back on my feet after this ordeal. I’m gonna have to see if the Section 8 folks will give me another place.”

He held a blank stare for a moment. “Nah, go ahead and register for the classes you want to take. You can take more than one, though, full-time or part-time. Whatever you want to do, I got you.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I closed it with the hope that my words would be found and fill my mouth with them. When I opened my mouth again, there was nothing. After what felt like forever, I finally found words.

“You’re going to pay for me to go back to school? Why?”

He chuckled. “Why not, Reya? I know you’re tired of sitting in the house not doing much of shit but reading.”

When my face tightened, he threw his hands up with palms faced to me.

“Okay, my bad. Reading is something. Look, being honest, the nigga that we’re looking for with a price on your head is a slippery bitch. We think he’s slipped to another state, but he’s gonna be back.”

“Maybe he’s done with it all. If he left for another state, why would he come back? That doesn’t make sense.”

I would never claim to understand street shit, but I had common sense. I felt like it was more about ego than anything.

“It may not make sense, but I know he’s coming back. The price is still on your head. Not to put you in my street business, but I want you to understand the severity of why I still have you with me.” He paused then took a breath. “He tried to hit three of my traps, which resorted in him losing six of his team. As a result, we hit all of their traps and knocked out most of his team. That bitch is coming back.”

I was stuck without words. I felt like I was in the middle of some cartel storyline.

“Um, I guess I’ll stay here a little longer. Shit, at this point, I might as well be added to the deed. Feels like I may never leave.” My lids spread apart to their maximum capacity. “That was a joke!”

“I didn’t say shit.” The dimples that I loved to see were peeking out. “While you’re here, I want you to feel like you’re getting something accomplished. I don’t want you to feel like you’re just sitting around. I want you and Jedi to be happy while y’all here, you know?”

Without thinking, I lifted my body and threw my arms around his neck.

“Thank you so much! You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ll be able to get a real job that can really take care of me and my baby.”

It was like I didn’t realize that my arms were around him until I felt him put his arms around me. I snapped out of it and pulled my body back from him abruptly. As abruptly as I could since his strong arms hesitated to let me out of his hold.

“I’m so sorry.”

“The fuck you apologizing for, Reya? Stop being so fuckin’ timid.” He stood to his feet, looked down at me, then said, “Be an adult, lil baby. I promise you’ll be happy you did.”

He smoothly walked off as if he didn’t just tell me that he wanted to eat my pussy. I meant that was what I heard in my mind. My active listening might have been broken at the moment, but that’s what I heard. He wanted to blow my back out.Wait!

A Very Little Time Later…

“You really thinkthat bitch would go out like that, though?” I asked Sully with a sideways glance. “Man, she knows her ass won’t make it to her next birthday if she goes that route.”

We were in the office of my apartment building. I had to come over to sign a couple of eviction notices. Sully had suggested I move Reya and Lucas to a different house since Alexi knew that she was there. That shit caught me off guard.

“Yeah, man. You know like I know that your ex-bitch is petty as fuck. Now, she’s heartbroken or whatever she claims to be. You know that shit is true about hell having no fury, nigga.” He took a pull on his blunt. “Look, all I’m saying is that the goal isto keep Reya and our lil man Lucas safe. Don’t be blindsided by a bitch that you think you mean more to than you do.”

I heard and understood what he said. I hated to admit that he was right. You couldn’t trust a cheating, selfish ho. I wiped my hand down my face.

“Shit, I know, man. I hate to move them again. Jedi really likes his room, the backyard, and shit. Reya loves cooking in my kitchen.”

“Aw hell. You like her!” Sully blurted.

He took his phone out and tapped the screen. Shortly after, the phone rang throughout the office. He didn’t give the person a chance to say shit when they answered the phone.

“Babe, you owe me my stack. I told you he liked her ass.”

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